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Dino Makes All the Difference

Some autistic kids need "deep pressure", a type of physical comfort that can be provided by dogs -- especially those raised by North Star Foundation.

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Updated: 11:51 AM EST Feb 17, 2014

Dino Makes All the Difference

Some autistic kids need "deep pressure", a type of physical comfort that can be provided by dogs -- especially those raised by North Star Foundation.

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Updated: 11:51 AM EST Feb 17, 2014

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WEBVTT ON THE SUBJECT OF LOVE WE CERTAINLY CAN'T FORGET MAN'S BEST FRIEND, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY NOT. IMPOSSIBLE. AS DR. OLDS POINTS OUT. THERE IS WHAT THEY CALL COMPANION LOVE WHICH IS THE LOVE YOU HAVE FOR A VERY DEAR FRIEND AND FEELING YOU CAN BE YOURSELF AROUND THEM. 12-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER GIBBONS CAN RUN FREELYND LAUGH AND BE HIMSELF NOW THAT HE HAS HIS SERVICE DOG. I LOVE HIM. I CAN COUNT ON HIM NO MATTER WHAT. HIS MOTHER SAYS MAKING FRIENDS WAS NOT EASY FOR HER SON WHO HAS A MILD FORM OF AUTISM. IT CAN BE LONELY BECAUSE YOU ARE DIFFERENT IN A LOT OF WAYS. FOR CHRIS A LOT OF THAT IS INTERNAL WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T SEE SO THAT MAKES IT EVEN HARDER IN MANY WAYS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND. IT PRESSURES ME. LIKE WHY DO YOU HAVE AUTISM. I WILL BE LIKE I DON'T KNOW LIKE I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD TELL THEM OR NOT. FOR CHRISTOPHER, SOCIALIZING IS A STRUGGLE. ANXIETY EVER PRESENT. I HAVE TROUBLE WHERE I WILL BE AFRAID TO GO UPSTAIRS SOMETIMES OR ANYWHERE WHERE I'M ALONE. WHAT HELPS WITH SOME PEOPLE WITH AUTISM IS SOMETHING CALLED DEEP PRESSURE. YOU MIGHT LEAN ON SOMEBODY. IT HELPS CHRISTOPHER TO FEEL ORGANIZED AND COMFORTABLE AND STAY CALMER AND STABLE. DUGS GIVE THAT KIND OF PHYSICAL COMFORT NATURALLY. TO GET THE RIGHT DOG FOR CHRIS HIS MOTHER CONTACTED THE NORTH STAR FOUNDATION. A CONNECTICUT -BASED ORGANIZATION THAT PAIRS AUTISTIC CHILDREN WITH COMPATIBLE SERVICE DOGS. HE NEEDED AN ACTIVE DOG AND PLAYFUL BUT A DUG THAT WOULD GIVE HIM THE COMFORT AND ONE ON ONE ATTENTION THAT REALLY ALL OF US WANT AND SOME OF US NEED. NORTH STAR HAS PAIRED DOZENS OF DOGS AND CHILDREN. THE NONPROFIT PAYS HALF OF THE COST OF TRAINING. FAMILIES RAISE THE REST. $5,000. CHRIS' FAMILY SPENT MONTHS GATHERING DONATIONS. IN APRIL OF 2013 DINO MADE HIS WAY TO FOXBOROUGH AND HIS NEW HOME WITH CHRIS, HIS SISTERS AND PARENTS. THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT A SERVICE DOG CAN DO FOR A KID LIKE CHRISTOPHER. THE COMFORT AND COMPANIONSHIP OF SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT JUDGMENTAL AND WILL BE THERE FOR HIM ALL THE TIME. AND THE DOG JUST LEANING AGAINST HIM OR SITTING ON HIS LAP, THAT KIND OF THING HELPS HIM OUT WITH HIS SOCIALIZATION. HE WAS KIND OF SHY AND A LITTLE WITHDRAWN AND NOW HE IS VERY PROUD OF HIMSELF AS HE SHOULD BE. WITH DINO AROUND, CHRISTOPHER IS LEFT ANXIOUS AND MORE ASSURED. NOW I CAN FEEL SECURE WHEN I SAY I HAVE AUTISM AND I'M PROUD OF IT BECAUSE I HAVE A DOG. IT JUST GIVES ME A WARM-HEARTED FEELING BECAUSE NOW HE IS HAPPY. JUST TO SEE HIS FACE LIGHT UP WHEN HE SEES DINO RUNNING TOWARDS HIM AND TO SEE HOW HAPPY DINO IS, IT IS A GREAT FEELING. I MIGHT EVEN COME HOME FROM SCHOOL SAD OR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AND HE WILL LIKE BRIGHTON ME UP AND THEN HE WILL LIKE MAKE ME FORGET ABOUT THAT. I THINK YOU CAN LOVE ANYTHING BUT TO LOVE A DOG AND A COMPANION FOR LIFE. AS THEY SAY, DOG IS MAN'S BEST FRIEND. AND NORTH STAR WAS ABLE TO GET CHRISTOPHER A DOG WITHIN A YEAR BUT THAT IS NOT ALWAYS A CASE. WE HEARD FROM A LOCAL FAMILY THAT WAITED A YEAR AND A HALF AND ASKED FOR THEIR MONEY BACK AND GOT IT. NORTH STAR SAID SOMETIMES THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PUPS TO GO AROUND. THAT IS IT FOR "CHRONICLE" TONIGHT. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN ON MONDAY. "CHRONICLE" MONDAY. VENTURE TO THE CAYMANS. THIS BOY NEEDS TO HAVE SOME SUN. IT IS COLD IN BOSTON. WHY ON EARTH WOULD I WANT TO KISS A STINGRAY?

Dino Makes All the Difference

Some autistic kids need "deep pressure", a type of physical comfort that can be provided by dogs -- especially those raised by North Star Foundation.